Topological gauge theories and group cohomology

We show that three dimensional Chern-Simons gauge theories with a compact gauge groupG (not necessarily connected or simply connected) can be classified by the integer cohomology groupH ⁴(BG,Z). In a similar way, possible Wess-Zumino interactions of such a groupG are classified byH ³(G,Z). The relation between three dimensional Chern-Simons gauge theory and two dimensional sigma models involves a certain natural map fromH ⁴(BG,Z) toH ³(G,Z). We generalize this correspondence to topological spin theories, which are defined on three manifolds with spin structure, and are related to what might be calledZ ₂ graded chiral algebras (or chiral superalgebras) in two dimensions. Finally we discuss in some detail the formulation of these topological gauge theories for the special case of a finite group, establishing links with two dimensional (holomorphic) orbifold models.     

Comparison of lattice gauge theories with gauge groups Z2 and SU(2)

We study a model of a pure Yang Mills theory with gauge group SU(2) on a lattice in Euclidean space. We compare it with the model obtained by restricting variables to $\text{Z}$₂. An inequality relating expectation values of the Wilson loop integral in the two theories is established. It shows that confinement of static quarks is true in our SU(2) model whenever it holds for the corresponding $\text{Z}$₂-model. The SU(2) model is shown to have high and low temperature phases that are distinguished by a qualitatively different behavior of the 't Hooft disorder parameter.     

New example of infinite family of quiver gauge theories

We construct a new infinite family of quiver gauge theories which blow down to the Xp,q$X^{p,q}$ quiver gauge theories found by Hanany, Kazakopoulos and Wecht. This family includes a quiver gauge theory for the third del Pezzo surface. We show, using Z-minimization, that these theories generically have irrational R-charges. The AdS/CFT correspondence implies that the dual geometries are irregular toric Sasaki–Einstein manifolds, although we do not know the explicit metrics.     

Linear bosonic quantum field theories arising from causal variational principles

We describe discrete symmetries of two-dimensional Yang–Mills theory with gauge group G associated with outer automorphisms of G, and their corresponding defects. We show that the gauge theory partition function with defects can be computed as a path integral over the space of twisted G-bundles and calculate it exactly. We argue that its weak-coupling limit computes the symplectic volume of the moduli space of flat twisted G-bundles on a surface. Using the defect network approach to generalised orbifolds, we gauge the discrete symmetry and construct the corresponding orbifold theory, which is again two-dimensional Yang–Mills theory but with gauge group given by an extension of G by outer automorphisms. With the help of the orbifold completion of the topological defect bicategory of two-dimensional Yang–Mills theory, we describe the reverse orbifold using a Wilson line defect for the discrete gauge symmetry. We present our results using two complementary approaches: in the lattice regularisation of the path integral, and in the functorial approach to area-dependent quantum field theories with defects via regularised Frobenius algebras.

     

Critical point behavior of the Wilson loop

I note that, at a second-order phase transition in a gauge theory, the static quark-antiquark potential derived from the Wilson loop is proportional to $\text{1}\text{R}$, independently of space-time dimensionality. I present two simple applications of this observation: a definition of the critical exponent η for lattice gauge theories and an argument for gauge theories analogous to the Mermin-Wagner theorem.     

Confinement,the Wilson loop and the gluon propagator

We show that if the gluon propagator has a highly singular infrared behavior (such as $\text{1}\text{q}{}^4$) in any one gauge then the Wilson loop must fall exponentially to zero with an area law, indicative of confinement. The proof of this claim follows from an inequality derived via a mean value theorem.     

A string calculation of the Kähler potentials for moduli of ZN orbifolds

We present a method for calculating the Kähler potentials of the moduli of Z_N orbifolds directly from string theory. The explicit Kähler potentials associated with b_(1,1) and b_(1,2) moduli are given for any (2,0) symmetric Z_N orbifold. These results are exact at the string tree level.     

A six-dimensional gauge-Higgs unification model based on E6 gauge symmetry

We construct a six-dimensional gauge-Higgs unification model with the enlarged gauge group of E₆ on S²/Z₂$S^2/Z_2$ orbifold compactification. The standard model particle contents and gauge symmetry are obtained by utilizing a monopole background field and imposing appropriate parity conditions on the orbifold. In particular, a realistic Higgs potential suitable for breaking the electroweak gauge symmetry is obtained without introducing extra matter or assuming an additional symmetry relation between the SU(2) isometry transformation on the S²$S^2$ and the gauge symmetry. The Higgs boson is a KK mode associated with the extra-dimensional components of gauge field. We also compute the KK masses of all fields at tree level.     

Worldlines on orbifolds and the Fayet-Iliopoulos term

We adapt string-inspired worldline techniques to one-loop calculations on orbifolds, in particular on the S¹/Z₂ orbifold. Our method also allows for the treatment of brane-localized terms, or bulk-brane couplings. For demonstration, we reproduce the well-known result for the one-loop induced Fayet-Iliopoulos term in rigidly supersymmetric Abelian gauge theory, and generalize it to the case where soft supersymmetry breaking mass terms for the bulk scalar fields are present on the branes.Received: 10 January 2005, Published online: 11 May 2005     

Remodeling the B-Model

We propose a complete, new formalism to compute unambiguously B-model open and closed amplitudes in local Calabi–Yau geometries, including the mirrors of toric manifolds. The formalism is based on the recursive solution of matrix models recently proposed by Eynard and Orantin. The resulting amplitudes are non-perturbative in both the closed and the open moduli. The formalism can then be used to study stringy phase transitions in the open/closed moduli space. At large radius, this formalism may be seen as a mirror formalism to the topological vertex, but it is also valid in other phases in the moduli space. We develop the formalism in general and provide an extensive number of checks, including a test at the orbifold point of A _p fibrations, where the amplitudes compute the ’t Hooft expansion of vevs of Wilson loops in Chern-Simons theory on lens spaces. We also use our formalism to predict the disk amplitude for the orbifold .     

String orbifolds and quotient stacks

In this note we observe that, contrary to the usual lore, string orbifolds do not describe strings on quotient spaces, but rather seem to describe strings on objects called quotient stacks, a result that follows from simply unraveling definitions, and is further justified by a number of results. Quotient stacks are very closely related to quotient spaces; for example, when the orbifold group acts freely, the quotient space and the quotient stack are homeomorphic. We explain how sigma models on quotient stacks naturally have twisted sectors, and why a sigma model on a quotient stack would be a nonsingular CFT even when the associated quotient space is singular. We also show how to understand twist fields in this language, and outline the derivation of the orbifold Euler characteristic purely in terms of stacks. We also outline why there is a sense in which one naturally finds B≠0 on exceptional divisors of resolutions. These insights are not limited to merely understanding existing string orbifolds: we also point out how this technology enables us to understand orbifolds in M-theory, as well as how this means that string orbifolds provide the first example of an entirely new class of string compactifications. As quotient stacks are not a staple of the physics literature, we include a lengthy tutorial on quotient stacks, describing how one can perform differential geometry on stacks.     

Gauge invariance and renormalization

The renormalization of Abelian and non-Abelian local gauge theories is discussed. It is recalled that whereas Abelian gauge theories are invariant to local c-number gauge transformations δA_μ(x) = ?_μ,…, with □Λ = 0, and to the operator gauge transformation δA_μ(x) = ?_μφ(x), …, δφ(x) = α^?1?·A(x), with □φ = 0, non-Abelian gauge theories are invariant only to the operator gauge transformations $\text{δA}{}_{\mathrm{\mu }}\text{(x) ～}\textcolor{red}{}{}_{\mathrm{\mu }}\text{C(x)}$, …, introduced by Becchi, Rouet and Stora, where

_μ is the covariant derivative matrix and C is the vector of ghost fields. The renormalization of these gauge transformation is discussed in a formal way, assuming that a gauge-invariant regularization is present. The naive renormalized local non-Abelian c-number gauge transformation $\text{δA}{}_{\mathrm{\mu }}\text{(x) = (Z}{}_1\text{/Z}{}_3\text{)gA}{}_{\mathrm{\mu }}\text{(x) ×}\text{Λ}\text{(x)+?}{}_{\mathrm{\mu }}\text{Λ}\text{(x)}$, …, is never a symmetry transformation and is never finite in perturbation theory. Only for $\text{Λ}\text{(x) = (Z}{}_3\text{/Z}{}_1\text{)L}$ with L finite constants or for $\text{Λ}\text{(x) = Ω}\text{z}\text{?}{}_3\text{C(x)}$ with Ω a finite constant does it become a finite symmetry transformation, where $\text{z}\text{?}{}_3$ is the ghost field renormalization constant. The renormalized non-Abelian Ward-Takahashi (Slavnov-Taylor) identities are consequences of the invariance of the renormalized gauge theory to this formation. It is also shown how the symmetry generators are renormalized, how photons appear as Goldstone bosons, how the (non-multiplicatively renormalizable) composite operator A_μ × C is renormalized, and how an Abelian c-number gauge symmetry may be reinstated in the exact solution of many asymptotically fr ee non-Abelian gauge theories.     

Towards low energy physics from the heterotic string

We investigate orbifold compactifications of the heterotic string, addressing in detail their construction, classification and phenomenological potential. We present a strategy to search for models resembling the minimal supersymmetric extension of the standard model (MSSM) in ℤ₆‐II orbifold compactifications. We find several MSSM candidates with the gauge group and the exact spectrum of the MSSM, and supersymmetric vacua below the compactification scale. They also exhibit the following realistic features: R‐parity, seesaw suppressed neutrino masses, and intermediate scale of supersymmetry breakdown. In addition, we find that similar models also exist in other ℤ_N orbifolds and in the SO(32) heterotic theory.     

Orbifolds as configuration spaces of systems with gauge symmetries

In systems like Yang-Mills or gravity theory, which have a symmetry of gauge type, neither phase space nor configuration space is a manifold but rather an orbifold with singular points corresponding to classical states of non-generically higher symmetry. The consequences of these symmetries for quantum theory are investigated. First, a certain orbifold configuration space is identified. Then, the Schrödinger equation on this orbifold is considered. As a typical case, the Schrödinger equation on (double) cones over Riemannian manifolds is discussed in detail as a problem of selfadjoint extensions. A marked tendency towards concentration of the wave function around the singular points in configuration space is observed, which generically even reflects itself in the existence of additional bound states and can be interpreted as a quantum mechanism of symmetry enhancement.     

Classification of symmetry breaking by Wilson lines on the Z orbifold

We give a complete classification of gauge symmetry breaking by Wilson lines on the standard Z orbifold by deriving the general formula of the conditions of modular invariance and group invariance in the presence of background gauge fields. All possible E₆×SU(3) breaking in terms of one Wilson line is given. The symmetries of the electroweak and grand unification are obtained by combining two Wilson lines.